Hi All,
I owed so many of you an update email that I decided to do it on a “mass approach”.
Not so long ago I decided the house we were living in whilst lovely and contemporary was not practical to live in with our crazy two little treasures.
So I had been looking over a number of months at any that came up that would fit our bill and then low and behold I found one on the Thursday, viewed it and applied for it in the same day, then set about becoming the agents newest best friend or was that newest stalker – either way it worked and we received the news lunch time Saturday that we had been the successful applicants (there were 6). So I packed up the house with Jana on Monday and Tuesday (Paul happily went to work), flew to Canberra Wednesday for a handover from the lady I was relieving at work (more on that later), had removalists there Thursday 7am-9pm. Unpacked like maniacs for the next 48hrs and was happily settled Saturday by the afternoon which was conveniently the weekend I had planned a suprise weekend for Paul.
So there we were 2 little happy boys delighted with their new house and new rooms, an Au Pair who babysat the boys for 24hrs whilst Paul and I tripped off to the Four Seasons for dinner, drinks, massages and timeout which we decided we thoroughly deserved. This was also the first time I had ever left the boys and I coped surprisingly easily if I do say so myself, helps that Jana knows them so well it was like leaving them with a second Mum. We arrived back Sunday afternoon feeling completely revived and ready to start work the following week.
WORK AHHHHH! What a major interference with my previously social life of children fun things, gym, lunches and visiting other people with children or without!
BUT it was my choice and is definitely a great role with CSC (company I worked for before leaving Oz) which is only 3 days a week and working with a delightful bunch of people, so whilst I huff and puff about it, if you have to work it really is a pleasure to do so if I have to work. We decided it was time to inject some additional cash into the bank as we are building a fab house in Putney.
Well we plan to if we can ever get it off the drawing boards and out of council process into action of building. It has a clear objective of comfort and entertaining dream house so we can have you all over at some point!
Vibeke, Nelsons, Trish, Kerstin, Iris it will be ready to host you in second half of 2009 so get your tickets booked, same goes for any of you other O/S folk that have been waiting for a trip Downunder to see us – naturally it will be child friendly.
Mothers Day was a delightful affair, we spent the day at the Reptile park up the North Coast. We met Mum and Dad there and then proceeded to look at all the snakes, crocodiles, alligators etc etc. Keian and Jaiden had a ball and Keian still talks about the Croc coming out of the water and going SNAP SNAP to eat his lunch. Needless to say I was spoilt rotten with Paul and Keian hitting the shops and suprising me with some beautiful silver jewellery! Love it!
I have been busy to boot with Carolyn and I building the business plan and website for our next adventure – El Viaje – stay tuned!
Since I love the whole experience of having Jana our German Au Pair with us we have decided it should be available to all that need it. So we are working on making that happen.
Baptism – we finally got to baptise the boys in a great day in April. Tks to all those that made it and spoilt the boys rotten. Jaiden doubly as it was also his first birthday.
I can hardly believe it has been a year since Jaiden joined our family. He is still a delight and would encourage me to have many more if they were all as easy as him. He is now walking everywhere and CLIMBING. My first experience with Keian not being a climber left me in total awe of what this little package Jaiden can do. When we moved we definitely learnt not to leave the 4 foot ladder upright or the draws of a cupboard open as he is straight up both and a little fall or 10 does not deter him. Recently a girlfriend minded him for a few hours and reported back to me that whilst she had an 11mth old she got a real insight from Jaiden on what needs to happen around the house to really child proof it for the next phase. Poor Georgia had pictures removed off walls, cupboards explored, cupboards and ladders climbed etc etc but he must have had a ball because he came home and slept for 2 hours!
Keian is loads of fun at 2.5yrs, he is so curious and becoming very independent wanting to do everything himself. He is using more and more words which is a fun period as he tries to explain and talk about everything and if he does not know the word he is looking for he simply inserts bus-stop or snap snap which are his favourite words alongside MINE and NO! He is still amazing with his ball skills, catching, kicking, throwing and anything else he can think to do with it! He still dances everywhere and recently the teacher at his daycare said to me, I love how he bops everywhere instead of walking!” Made me laugh.
He is both the divine protector/ loving elder brother and the torturer who torments and takes what he likes from Jaiden. That being said Jaiden is no push over and it is not uncommon to see him being dragged along behind Keian as he hangs on for grim death to whatever it is Keian is trying to take off him or giving Keian a good bop on the nose to express his displeasure at what Keian may be doing to him.
All in all the boys are fantastic and keep Paul and I both very busy but equally entertained and proud to be their parents.
Recently we had a terrific family affair for Mum’s 70th birthday. She shone on the day and looked not a day over 60 as she socialised with her friends which she has collected over her 70yrs. We all had a ball and the grandchildren and children enjoyed the opportunity to all get together (minus Regan, Steve and Wend who due to their recent visit to Australia could not come back for it). We did however workout it had been over 15yrs since the entire family has been able to organise all being in the one place at the one time so we took the opportunity to set the date of Christmas 2009 followed closely by Mum and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary on Jan 9th 2010 as the goal date to succeed in a full family function! Can’t wait – wonder how many will be in the immediate family by
then????
Whilst the departure of Jana to start Uni in Germany in May was very sad we are delighted to have shared our family with her and consider her as part of our family going forward, I am confident we sure learnt alot from each other and will continue to stay in touch and visit.
We are looking forward to welcoming Carina our new Au Pair to our home when she arrivesl July 20th. Inbetween times we have been really lucky to have Mum and Dad helping us look after the boys while I work. I think it has been a mutual benefit as the kids have loved spending time with their Duffy Grandparents and I know Mum and Dad have enjoyed getting to know the boys so well. I know the boys certainly associate Gran and Grumps with Lottie the dog who also makes the trip down some weeks to stay with us. All good fun!
The Murphy Grandparents return tomorrow morning from a 6 week holiday around Europe. We are looking forward to seeing them and hearing all about their adventures.
Paul is fantastic. Still working hard and long hours but I have concluded that is just what he does. He takes great pride in his work and enjoys the challenges it throws at him and the opportunity to make a difference. Although he is confident that when that powerball win comes off he will have no problem walking away with barely a glance over his shoulder – instead filling his days with the boys, golf and travel! HA bring it on!
I seem to have had no time for knitting of late (not that I can knit), between the boys, the house, Mum’s Party, El Viaje, friends and and and.....the days just roll on by. BUT I am loving it. I feel very contented with our current position in life and look forward to moving to the next phase. I started back at netball twice a week and love it more than I remembered. I have a fantastic team who are both talented and great fun which really makes the whole experience a delight!
Work as I said is great fun, a little too much travel away from the boys but they are in capable hands and I have been able to catch up with some friends along the way.
Weather in Sydney has been the pits, after a pathetic attempt at a Summer this year we moved into a rain filled Autumn and Winter start. I know all the Mum’s out their share a new insight to rain being a pain with small Children who quickly get cabin fever. After attending another indoor play centre over at Chatswood – Wizzy World this morning with Paul and the boys I decided that when it rains and these places are the natural place for EVERYONE to go. This in turn sends my anxiety levels sky high. Paul laughs and says the worry etched onto my face is comical and I should just relax and know the boys will be fine and that they love it instead of trying to protect them from everyone and everything!
Needless to say I have two little boys tucked up in bed exhausted allowing me to write this update.
In saying that I will sign off now and go and load the latest photos onto the website and also a copy of this email up there.
Great to stay in touch,
Love
Corrine, Paul, Keian and Jaiden
xxxx